Latest news with #AssociatedPressCoachoftheYear
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
St. John's Sends Strong Rick Pitino Message After Historic Season
The St. John's Red Storm are fresh off a historic season with head coach Rick Pitino at the helm. Pitino led St. John's to the NCAA Tournament, ranked as a No. 2 seed. The Red Storm began March Madness with a victory over Omaha in the first round and followed that with a second-round loss. Advertisement St. John's fell to John Calipari and the Arkansas Razorbacks, ending a memorable year for the program. Despite the brief run in the tournament, Pitino was highlighted as one of the best head coaches in college basketball. The legendary coach won the Naismith National Coach of the Year and was a co-winner of the Associated Press Coach of the Year award, alongside Auburn's Bruce Pearl. After the season, St. John's recapped an incredible year by Pitino and his team. "A year to remember with our Coach," the official social media account of the St. John's Red Storm posted. The 2024-25 college basketball season will certainly be marked in the record books for Rick Pitino and the St. John's Red Storm. Advertisement St. John's undefeated 12-0 record at Madison Square Garden was a program first since 1931-32. The Johnnies also won the Big East Tournament title for the first time since 2000. St. John's Red Storm head coach Rick Canha-Imagn Images Last season, St. John's was led by Big East Player of the Year RJ Luis Jr., who had the best season of his three-year college basketball career, posting 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. The Red Storm may have suffered an early loss in the NCAA Tournament, but they've certainly turned the corner in their pursuit to become one of the best college basketball programs in the country. Related: Big John Calipari Announcement Made on Friday Related: Dawn Staley Announces Exciting Personal News on Thursday
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Auburn's Bruce Pearl a vocal leader of a trio of Jewish coaches with teams at the Final Four
Auburn's Bruce Pearl a vocal leader of a trio of Jewish coaches with teams at the Final Four Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, Associated Press Coach of the Year, answers a question during a news conference ahead of a Final Four college basketball games in the NCAA Tournament Friday, April 4, 2025, in San Antonio. Pearl shares the honor with St. John's head coach Rick Pitino. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, left, and St. John's head coach Rick Pitino hold their Associated Press Coach of the Year trophy's during a news conference ahead of a Final Four college basketball games in the NCAA Tournament Friday, April 4, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl yells during practice at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, April 4, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, Associated Press Coach of the Year, is reflected in his trophy as he answers a question during a news conference ahead of a Final Four college basketball games in the NCAA Tournament Friday, April 4, 2025, in San Antonio. Pearl shares the honor with St. John's head coach Rick Pitino. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Duke head coach Jon Scheyer answers a question during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Duke head coach Jon Scheyer answers a question during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Duke head coach Jon Scheyer answers a question during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Florida head coach Todd Golden speaks at a news conference during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson ) Florida head coach Todd Golden speaks during a news conference during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson ) Florida head coach Todd Golden speaks at a news conference during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson ) Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl walks to practice during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson ) Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl sits down for a news conference during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl answers a question during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl answers a question during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, Associated Press Coach of the Year, answers a question during a news conference ahead of a Final Four college basketball games in the NCAA Tournament Friday, April 4, 2025, in San Antonio. Pearl shares the honor with St. John's head coach Rick Pitino. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, left, and St. John's head coach Rick Pitino hold their Associated Press Coach of the Year trophy's during a news conference ahead of a Final Four college basketball games in the NCAA Tournament Friday, April 4, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl yells during practice at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, April 4, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, Associated Press Coach of the Year, is reflected in his trophy as he answers a question during a news conference ahead of a Final Four college basketball games in the NCAA Tournament Friday, April 4, 2025, in San Antonio. Pearl shares the honor with St. John's head coach Rick Pitino. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Duke head coach Jon Scheyer answers a question during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Duke head coach Jon Scheyer answers a question during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Duke head coach Jon Scheyer answers a question during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Florida head coach Todd Golden speaks at a news conference during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson ) Florida head coach Todd Golden speaks during a news conference during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson ) Florida head coach Todd Golden speaks at a news conference during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson ) Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl walks to practice during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson ) Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl sits down for a news conference during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl answers a question during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Auburn coach Bruce Pearl, Florida's Todd Golden and Duke's Jon Scheyer are basketball rivals at the Final Four with a unique connection: All are Jewish, with careers that have cut various paths through Israel. To have three Jewish head coaches at one of the biggest events in college sports comes as university campuses grapple with protests over the Israel-Hamas war, Jews are regularly pressed for opinions on the conflict and the Trump administration cracks down on schools it contends are not doing enough to fight antisemitism. Advertisement 'As a young Jewish boy growing up in Boston, I would have been proud' of three Jewish head coaches leading the sport, Pearl said Friday, the day before his Tigers square off against Golden's Gators. And it is a point of pride today for some in the Jewish community in the U.S. and abroad. 'It's huge, especially this year with antisemitism on the rise,' said Erez Sherman, senior rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles who hosts the 'Rabbi on the Sidelines' podcast on faith in sports and has had Pearl as a guest several times. 'They (each) have been part of the Jewish-Israel story and coach Pearl takes it to another level." Pearl, 65, is by far the the most outspoken of the three about his Judaism and pro-Israel activism. Earlier at this year's NCAA Tournament, he publicly called for the release the of Edan Alexander, the last living American being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas. The comments prompted a thank-you call from Israel President Isaac Herzog for raising awareness on the hostage issue. Advertisement Pearl made a point of mentioning Alexander again during a news conference Friday. He pulled a dog tag from under his shirt that he wears as a reminder of the hostages still being held. 'I don't always wear it outside because I want it close to my heart," Pearl said. 'It's just a reminder that, while we're all celebrating this incredible championship in San Antonio, there's tremendous suffering in the Middle East, and we pray for peace. And the hostages to come home. If the hostages are released, the death and dying will stop.' A lighter side The Jewish connection to this year's Final Four is not all serious. Advertisement Golden noted this week that being a Jew helped him recruit Florida's star guard Walter Clayton Jr. back to his home state as a transfer from Iona in 2023. Golden said he thought he already had Clayton locked in when the player's mother called the him on Easter Sunday to warn him her son might be leaning toward joining Rick Pitino at St. John's. 'I guess one of the benefits of being Jewish is that we don't celebrate Easter. Got on a plane that afternoon, flew up, met with Walt on Easter Sunday evening,' Golden said. 'Before we left that night, he let us know he was going to come home.' Israel ties Advertisement All three coaches have direct basketball connections to the Jewish state. In 2009, Pearl coached the U.S. team at the Maccabiah Games in Israel, an international sports events for Jewish and Israeli athletes. The U.S. beat the host team in the final for the gold medal. A key player and co-captain of that squad was Golden, who had finished his college career at St. Mary's. Scheyer, 37, and Golden, 39, also hold dual American-Israel citizenship and briefly played professionally in Israel: Scheyer with Maccabi Tel Aviv after his college career at Duke, and Golden for two seasons with Maccabi Haifa. 'Bruce actually recruited me to play for the Maccabi team when I was in college,' Scheyer said. "I've had close relationships with those guys for some time. Really happy for them, to see what they're doing. Advertisement 'Yeah, of course you're proud. You're proud of a lot of things, too," he added. "Proud of representing Duke and our team. I also acknowledge it's a pretty rare thing to have three of us in the Final Four.' Pearl's passion In interviews, Pearl often mentions his Hebrew name, Mordechai, while weaving in tales from Jewish tradition and prayer rituals he observed as a child. He will tell the story of his grandfather's move to the U.S. to escape pogroms in Eastern Europe. In 2022, he took his Auburn team on a playing tour of Israel, which included visits to Palestinian territories. The team visited the Western Wall and Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. Several of his Christian players were baptized in the Jordan River. Advertisement 'It's great to see a coach who is so vocal about his own faith, but allows us to pursue our own and he encourages us to be vocal about it.' said Auburn senior forward Dylan Cardwell, who was one of those players baptized on the trip to Israel. 'I follow his example.' After the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, the Auburn staff wore American and Israeli flag pins at games; for a while, Pearl would wear a piece of tape with a number representing the how many days the hostages had been held. He also joined the Auburn campus Hillel chapter to pack boxes of supplies, food and other assorted items for Israeli children and soldiers. Several of his players joined in. 'I believe Coach Pearl actually brings people together, even though he has a very strong, passionate voice,' Sherman said. Advertisement Pearl also has been unafraid to court criticism. He frequently used his social media account on X to criticize former President Joe Biden's policies on Israel, the war and on Iran, and to support President Donald Trump. Pearl addressed his willingness to take such public stands. 'Silence is complicity in many, many ways,' Pearl said. 'For me and what I stand for, and that's something I'm proud of as a Jewish man.' Scheyer and Golden haven't been as outspoken, but both addressed the Israel-Hamas war when it started and expressed worries about friends they made while playing in Israel. 'I'm incredibly proud to be Jewish. I don't necessarily love or feel like it's something that I need to be talking about all the time as a basketball coach,' Golden said. 'Because at times, I feel like we have a little more of a stage than we deserve when it comes to these topics. But definitely super prideful to be able to be one of three coaches at the Final Four that's Jewish.' Advertisement Jewish coaching outreach Pearl was a co-founder and first president of the Jewish Coaches Association, established in 2005 to mentor, promote and advocate for Jewish coaches and, as he puts it, give younger coaches a "little bit of hope that they could be successful.' The first meetings were small get-togethers 'to have coffee, bagels and chat,' said Matt Elkins, the group's current executive director and assistant recruiting coordinator for Stanford basketball. The organization has now grown 800-strong with members from the high school to college coaching and administration ranks. Some 300 are expected at a Saturday breakfast in San Antonio. The group is proud to see Pearl, Golden and Scheyer so close to a national championship, Elkin said. The last Jewish coach to win the NCAA Tournament was Larry Brown with Kansas in 1988. Advertisement Only one is guaranteed to reach the final, with either Auburn or Florida advancing to Monday night's game. Scheyer's Duke team would have to beat Houston to guarantee a Jewish coaching matchup. None of the three — and Houston coach Kelvin Sampson too — has won a Division I national championship. Pearl and Pitino were named the The Associated Press men's college basketball coaches of the year on Friday. Scheyer also received votes. 'Each in their own way is representing in a positive way the strength and perseverance of the Jewish people," Elkin said. 'They are saying I'm here and not going anywhere and not backing down.' ___ AP March Madness bracket: and coverage: Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.
USA Today
19-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Biggest losses during Kansas coach Bill Self's college basketball coaching career
Biggest losses during Kansas coach Bill Self's college basketball coaching career Show Caption Hide Caption Cameron Brink talks all things WNBA and Unrivaled Cameron Brink stop by to talk all things basketball and her new partnership with Optimum Nutrition. Sports Seriously Kansas basketball coach Bill Self is among the best coaches in college basketball history. In his 32-year coaching career, Self has won 832 games, two national championships and twice been named the Associated Press Coach of the Year. With those hefty accolades, Self has been a coach long enough that he is not immune to some bad losses, either. REQUIRED READING: March Madness odds: Ranking best teams for 2025 NCAA tournament, national championship Self and the Jayhawks suffered a 91-57 defeat at the hands of BYU, which was the third-worst loss in program history. The 34-point loss tied for Self's worst margin of defeat in his Kansas career, which started ahead of the 2003-04 season. Self and the Jayhawks also lost by 34 points to USC in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Kansas opened the 2024-25 season as the preseason No. 1 ranked team in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. The Jayhawks (17-9, 8-7 Big 12) entered the week ranked No. 25 in the Coaches Poll and five out of their previous eight games following a 14-4 start to the season. USA TODAY and ESPN's Joe Lunardi bracketology had Kansas as a No. 5 seed entering play on Tuesday, ahead of its loss to BYU. Despite the embarrassing and shocking loss for the Jayhawks, they are still well-postioned for an NCAA tournament berth. And if any coach in the nation can overcome a devastating blowout loss, it will be Self, who has done so before. Here's a look at Self's worst losses during his career and at Kansas: Worst losses in Bill Self's career Self and Kansas' 34-point loss to BYU on Tuesday goes down and tied for ninth for the worst loss during his coaching career, which includes stops at Oral Roberts, Tulsa, Illinois and Kansas. 1. Dec. 10, 1993: Washington State 98, Oral Roberts 50 (48 points) Washington State 98, Oral Roberts 50 (48 points) 2. Dec. 10, 1994: Tulsa 99, Oral Roberts 54 (45 points) Tulsa 99, Oral Roberts 54 (45 points) 3. Nov. 29, 1993: Mississippi State 94, Oral Roberts 52 (42 points) Mississippi State 94, Oral Roberts 52 (42 points) 4. March 14, 1999: Duke 97, Tulsa 56 (41 points) NCAA Tournament Duke 97, Tulsa 56 (41 points) NCAA Tournament 5. Jan. 11, 1995: Oklahoma State 84, Oral Roberts 45 (39 points) Oklahoma State 84, Oral Roberts 45 (39 points) 6. Nov. 21, 1997: Gonzaga 78, Tulsa 40 (38 points) Gonzaga 78, Tulsa 40 (38 points) 7. Feb. 28, 1994: Texas 106, Oral Roberts 69 (37 points) Texas 106, Oral Roberts 69 (37 points) 8. Feb. 11, 1995: Missouri 89, Oral Roberts 53 (36 points) Missouri 89, Oral Roberts 53 (36 points) T-9. Jan. 18, 1995: Oklahoma 87, Oral Roberts 53 (34 points) Oklahoma 87, Oral Roberts 53 (34 points) T-9. Dec. 21, 1995: Oklahoma 87, Oral Roberts 53 (34 points) Oklahoma 87, Oral Roberts 53 (34 points) T-9. Feb. 18, 2025: BYU 91, Kansas 57 (34 points) BYU 91, Kansas 57 (34 points) T-9. March 23, 2021: USC 85, Kansas 61 (34 points) USC 85, Kansas 61 (34 points) T-13. Feb. 1, 1994: Western Kentucky 87, Oral Roberts (32 points) Western Kentucky 87, Oral Roberts (32 points) T-13. Nov. 18, 2014: Kentucky 72, Kansas 40 (32 points) Kentucky 72, Kansas 40 (32 points) 15. Jan. 26, 2002: Indiana 88, Illinois 57 (31 points) Worst losses in Bill Self's career with Kansas Self's 34-point loss was tied for his worst loss with Kansas since he took over as the head coach in 2003. It matched a 2021 NCAA Tournament loss to USC.
CBS News
07-02-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Vikings' Kevin O'Connell named AP Coach of the Year at NFL Honors
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has been voted the 2024 Associated Press Coach of the Year. The Vikings, widely picked to finish last in the NFC North, ended up playing for a division title and the conference's No. 1 seed in the final game of the regular season. They lost to coach Dan Campbell and the Detriot Lions and then were knocked out of the playoffs by the Los Angeles Rams. O'Connell got 25 first-place votes, 18 seconds and seven thirds, appearing on all 50 ballots. "This season was one I'll always remember. A special football team that came together in a way that I am so proud of. The culture, the team that you guys built, is what this is all about," O'Connell said. O'Connell is the second Vikings head coach to earn the honor, joining Bud Grant who won it in 1969. He is also the first coach in franchise history to have multiple seasons with at least 13 wins. Late last month, O'Connell was also named the Pro Football Writers of America's Coach of the Year. one of four inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
New York Times
07-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Vikings' Kevin O'Connell earns Coach of the Year after guiding Minnesota to 14-win season
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has been named the Associated Press Coach of the Year during Thursday night's NFL Honors program in New Orleans. In his third season as Minnesota's coach, O'Connell guided the Vikings to a 14-3 record. With new additions in quarterback Sam Darnold and running back Aaron Jones added to the fold to join wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, O'Connell guided the team to a 5-0 start. After two losses over a five-day stretch in October, the Vikings racked up nine wins in a row. Minnesota stayed in the hunt for the NFC North title and No. 1 seed in the NFC up until the final week before losing the last game of the regular season to the Detroit Lions. GO DEEPER 'Make the complex simple' and adapt on the fly: How Kevin O'Connell leads electric Vikings Minnesota's 14 wins were the tied for the third-most in the league with the Philadelphia Eagles and trailed only the 15-win Lions and Kansas City Chiefs. The victory total was also the best mark in Vikings team history in 26 seasons. Two weeks ago, the 39-year-old coach inked a multi-year extension. In three seasons, O'Connell has compiled a 34-17 regular season record and is one of only two coaches since 1950 — George Seifert is the other — to have multiple 13-win seasons in a three-year span with different starting quarterbacks. Advertisement 'Kevin is exactly who we believed him to be when we named him as our head coach — an innovative play caller, an excellent communicator and a strong leader who motivates and connects with his players,' Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf said when announcing the contract extension. O'Connell topped finalists Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions), Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs), Sean Payton (Denver Broncos) and Dan Quinn (Washington Commanders) for the award. O'Connell received 25 of the 50 first-place votes and was no lower than third on a ballot. Minnesota had two other finalists at the NFL Honors. Darnold was nominated for AP Comeback Player of the Year and finished third behind the winner — Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and the runner-up, Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores was a finalist for AP Assistant Coach of the Year, but finished second to Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. GO DEEPER Vikings' Kevin O'Connell leans on unlikely source for guidance: Hall of Famer Bill Cowher The Vikings entered the 2024 season with low expectations. Oddsmakers listed Minnesota's over-under at around 6 1/2 wins. There was uncertainty at quarterback. The Vikings were also navigating Khyree Jackson's tragic passing over the summer. O'Connell's leadership not only kept the Vikings afloat, but it also helped the organization thrive amid adversity. Darnold produced a career year with O'Connell calling the plays, and the Vikings won 14 games. No statistic does more justice to what Minnesota accomplished under O'Connell this season than this one: O'Connell became the first NFL coach since at least 1950 to win 14 games in a season with a quarterback who was in his first season with the team. The Los Angeles Rams bounced the Vikings in the wild-card round, and Minnesota collapsed down the stretch. That the Vikings were even relevant in those final two games against the Lions and Rams is a testament to the job O'Connell did. — Alec Lewis, Vikings beat writer
